Abstract

This article examines the intersection of demographic anxiety and climate change discourse through an analysis of the ‘Gematigde groei – Rapport van de Staatscommissie Demografische Ontwikkelingen 2050’. With the intensification of global warming, Dutch society may face significant population shifts and this report outlines the implications of such a potential demographic “perfect storm”. Focusing on narratives surrounding population growth and migration, the study explores how demographic trends are framed within the context of environmental sustainability and socio-political concerns. Furthermore, the analysis constructs a genealogy of the affective work of Dutch policymaking on population issues, exploring how emotions and anxieties are mobilized in policy discourses to shape public opinion and political priorities. Integrating ‘affective biopolitics’, the study examines how state interventions in demographic matters employ affective dimensions – such as fear, hope, urgency and responsibility, to reinforce particular narratives about population control and sustainability and influence public perception and policy orientation. This study demonstrates how demographic concerns are framed within narratives of environmental sustainability and socio-political stability, creating a “perfect storm” of interconnected issues. It reveals that affective responses to climate change often intensify demographic anxieties, spotlighting the intertwinedness between economic growth, environmental preservation, and social stability. By situating demographic shifts within affective biopolitical frameworks, the study elucidates the role of emotions in shaping climate and demographic discourse, influencing policy decisions that seek to balance the “moderate growth” envisioned in the report with ecological sustainability and migration policy. Ultimately, the study contributes to the sociological understanding of how climate change narratives are interwoven with demographic anxieties, potentially shaping future policies on sustainable development and migration control.

Keywords

Bevolkingsbeleid, Klimaatverandering, Narratieven, Affect, Biopolitiek

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